Attachment for pianos or organs



{No Model.)

" J. W. CARTER.

ATTGHMENT FOR PIANOS ORORGANS.

10.507,883. Patented 001;.31,1893

A TTOHNEYS.

Unirse Srn'rns PATENT Ormes.

JAMES VILLIAM CARTER, OF CISCO, TEXAS.

ATTACHMENT FOR PIANOS OR ORGANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,883, dated October 31, 1893.

A Application filed April 10l 1893. Serial No. 469.714. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JAMES WILLIAM OAR- TER, of Cisco, in the county of Eastland and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Attachment for Pianos or Organs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new'and improved attachment especially designed for musical instruments, such as pianos and organs, to permit of conveniently moving the instrument about without danger of defacing it or doors, rails and other parts of the building.

The invention consists of certain parts and details, and combinations of the same, as will be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvement as applied. Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of the improvement on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is a similar View of the same with the handle and guard extended, the section being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 5. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan view of the improvement as folded back; and Fig. 5 is a similar View of the same as extended.

The musical instrument A is provided with the usual keyboard B, on the under side of which is arranged a handle or handles C, comprising a handle arm D, preferably made rectangular in cross section and having its front end D adapted to be taken hold of by the operator for moving the musical instrument about at the time the handle is extended as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. The rear end D2 of the handle arm D forms a pivot for the latter and is journaled in eyes E on a plate E secured by screws or other means to the under side of the keyboard, as is plainly shown in the drawings. The plate E is formed with a forwardly-extending spring tongue, E2, adapted to engage a projection D3 formed on the pivot end D2 of the handle arm D. The projection D3 is in alignment with the sides of the handle arm so as to hold the latter in a horizontal position when extended forward,

as illust-rated in Fig. 3, or when folded back under the keyboard B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4t, it being understood that in either case the spring tongue E2 holds the handle arm in horizontal position. Now, when the handle arm D is extended, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the forward end D projects sufficiently at the front of the keyboard B to enable the operator to take hold of the said end, so as to conveniently move the instrument about in the room or to conveniently carry it about in the house, or to remove it from the box in which it was shipped. When the handle is not to be used, the operator swings it downward and rearward to fold it against the under side of the keyboard B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, so that the handle is not in the way of the performer, and is, in fact, not visible. In order to prevent the keyboard from injury and to prevent it from defacing doors, rails or other parts ot' the house while' moving or carrying the instrument about, I pro vide a guard F mounted to slide transversely in suitable guideways G held on a plate G secured by bolts or other means to the under side of the keyboard B in front of the plate E forming part of the handle C. The ends of the guard F are formed with pins F', which extend to the ends of the instrument, it being understood that the bottom brackets for the keyboard prevent the guard F proper from extending throughout the entire length of the instrument. In the guard F are arranged transversely extending slots F2, through each of which extends a bolt II screwing in the plate G, and on the said bolt H is held to turn a latch I adapted to engage at its ends oppositely arranged pins J and J secured to the under side of the guard F. Now, when the latter is in the rearmost position, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, then the rear ends of the latches I engage the rear pins J while their pivot ends engage the front pins J, thus locking the guard Fin place on the plate Gr.l When it is desired to extend the guard F beyond the front edge of the keyboard B, as illustrated in Figs. l, 3 and 5, then the operator first swings the latches I out of engagement with the pins J to permit of moving the guard F forward in the guideways G. By this movement the latches I can be swung forward, so that their IOC pivot ends finally engage the rear pins J and their free ends engage the front pins J Whereby the guard F is again locked in place on the plate G, but in an extended or forward position. It will be seen that the projecting pins F may be used as handles in addition to the handle C, and at the same time the guard F forms a protection to prevent the keyboard from striking door-casings, doors, rails, &c., While moving the instrument about in the house.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 5 that a handle may be attached to the keyboard at each end, or at the center and ends.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A guard attachment for musical instruments, comprising a guard proper, a plate having guide Ways in which the said guard is mounted to slide, the said plate being adapted for attachment to the under side of the key board, and means, substantially as described, for locking the said guard proper in either a folded or extended position, substantially as shown and described.

2. The herein described guard consisting in a sliding plate for the under side of the key board provided with handle extensions F and means for securing the plate in position, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with the transversely slotted guard plate provided with projections or studs at the ends of its slots, of the securing pins or screws extending through the slots and provided with pivoted latches to engage with their ends said projections or studs and lock the plate when projected or retracted, substantially as set forth.

JAMES WILLIAM CARTER.

Vitnesses:

J. B. AMMERMAN, R. T. WHITE. 

